In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets singer songwriter Dana Gillespie. Dana chooses a painting entitled ‘My Wife’s Lovers’ - a painting commissioned by wealthy, American philanthropist Kate Birdsall Johnson of 42 of her Persian and Angora cats. Painted by Austrian artist Carl Kahler (1856 - 1906) it has been described as the “world’s greatest …

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets the star of 'Strictly Come Dancing' and 'Judge Rinder' writer and barrister Robert Rinder. Robert chooses 'The Dog' by Spanish painter and printmaker Francisco Goya (1746 - 1828). Describing this haunting image as “profound and beautiful” Robert reveals a deeply emotional response to the artwork. To comment…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets John Mitchinson author, publishing guru and head of research for the hit BBC show QI. John chooses 'The Ghost of a Flea’ (1819/20) a small work on mahogany by English poet, painter and printmaker William Blake (1757 -1827). Knowledgable and engaging, John discusses Blake’s interest in seances and the supern…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets the internationally best-selling author Sophie Hannah. Sophie discusses a painting entitled ‘Esbjorn Doing His Homework’ (1912) by Swedish painter Carl Larsson (1853 -1919). Sophie also reveals her unusual fascination with paintings which feature a red chair. To comment on the show please write to @laurajan…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets musician, composer and conductor Stephen Barlow. Stephen chooses 'The Almonry’ (1925) an etching by F.L Griggs (1876 - 1938). Stephen discusses the differences between art and music; sight and sound and how his interest in art was awakened by his wife Joanna Lumley. To comment on the show please write to @l…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets psychologist, author and broadcaster Dr Linda Papadopoulos. Linda chooses a “Bo-men” artwork by the Belgian ceramicist Daisy Boman (b. 1948). In an interesting chat about psychology, art and our perceptions – Linda reveals how art can be a mirror to both our internal and external worlds. To comment on the s…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Bill Thompson - a technology writer and broadcaster. Bill chooses 'Pulse Room' (2006) by the Mexican-Canadian electronic artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (b.1967). In this lively chat Bill discusses the increasing and varying use of technology in contemporary art and explores the boundaries between playful techn…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Shamim Sarif an award-winning novelist, screenwriter and director. Shamim chooses a painting she first encountered as a university student in Boston - ‘El Jaleo’ (1882) a painting by the Impressionist painter John Singer Sargent (1856- 1925). To comment on the show please write to @laurajanefoley on Twitter…

In this extended episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets the highly acclaimed actor Russell Tovey. Russell chooses ‘Night Fishing in Antibes’ (1939) by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973) and explains how a real-life encounter with the artwork had a profound effect on him. In this wide-ranging and engaging chat, which also covers Russell’s love of…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets musician and music producer Andy Gill – a founding member and guitarist for the English rock group Gang of Four. Andy chooses 'Le Déjeuner dans l'atelier’ (1868) by French painter Édouard Manet (1832- 1883). 'Le Déjeuner dans l’atelier’ is a painting which Andy believes has a direct line to the present day …

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Jo Good the hugely popular radio presenter on BBC London, actress and presenter. Jo chooses ‘Old Woman Saying Grace’ also known as ‘The Prayer Without End’ painted around 1656 by the Dutch Golden Age painter Nicolaes Maes (1634 - 1693). Jo explains the deeply personal reasons behind her choice of painting. …

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Paola Diana the best-selling author, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Paola chooses the iconic painting the ‘Mona Lisa’ (c.1503-6) by the Italian Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519). To comment on the show please write to @laurajanefoley on Twitter and use the hashtag #MyFavouriteWorkOfArt …

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Vikki Stone an award-winning comedian, actress, composer and singer. Vikki chooses to talk about Grayson Perry and the television programmes he has made for Channel 4. Vikki talks about the importance of accessibility in art, music and comedy. To comment on the show please write to @laurajanefoley on Twitte…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets award-winning composer, conductor and pianist Howard Blake. Howard is best known for composing the music for the much-loved Christmas classic 'The Snowman'. In a wide-ranging and fascinating chat full of revealing anecdotes, Howard chooses to talk about the art and life of English painter Ruskin Spear (1911…

In the first episode of the second series Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets the award-winning broadcaster and sports journalist Jim Rosenthal. Jim chooses 'View from Cookham Bridge' (1936) - an oil painting by the English painter Stanley Spencer (1891-1959). Jim reveals a keen interest and knowledge about Spencer which has developed over the past thirty ye…

Happy New Year! My Favourite Work of Art is back next week. Episodes will now be available to download on Sundays. To comment on the show please write to @laurajanefoley on Twitter and use the hashtag #MyFavouriteWorkOfArt Presented and produced by Dr Laura-Jane Foley Recorded and edited at Wisebuddah, London Title Music - 'Blue' from Colours by Di…

Artworks can elicit strong emotions and be powerful reminders of a lost time. In this series writer and art historian Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets some of Britain’s best-known personalities and uncovers the stories and passions behind her guests' favourite works of art. Thank you for listening to series one of My Favourite Work of Art. Listen to this …

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets human rights campaigner, writer and broadcaster Peter Tatchell. Peter chooses the powerful anti-war masterpiece ‘Guernica’ (1937) by Spanish painter Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Peter describes how the painting arouses "our emotions to stand in solidarity with the victims of war.” In a fascinating conversatio…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets artist Anita Klein who talks about the 'Madonna del Parto' (1457) by Italian Renaissance painter Piero della Francesca (c.1415 - 1492). Anita, whose own work explores the personal and private spheres, chooses an iconic painting which depicts the inner female experience. It is, Anita tells us, a painting she…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets opera singer Allan Clayton. Allan picks 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' (1490-1510) by the early Netherlandish painter Hieronymus Bosch (c.1450 - 1516) - a painting he describes as a 'glamorous dartboard!' Allan encountered the large triptrych oil painting on a visit to the Prado Museum in Madrid whilst si…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Pinky Lilani - an author, motivational speaker, food expert and women's advocate. She chooses an artwork she owns by the Pakistani artist Ismail Gulgee (1926 - 2007). To comment on the show please write to @laurajanefoley on Twitter and use the hashtag #MyFavouriteWorkOfArt Presented and produced by Dr Laur…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Ben Page, the Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI, one of the UK's leading market research organisations. Ben chooses the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome as his favourite work of art. The church was designed by the Italian Baroque architect Francesco Borromini (1599 - 1667). To comment on the sho…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets the artist Jane McAdam Freud who talks about 'La Reve' (1932) by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Jane reveals that the painting, a portrait of Picasso's mistress Marie-Therese Walter, has had a huge impact on her artistic output over the past 30 years. To comment on the show please write to @laura…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets film director, painter and writer Gillies MacKinnon. Gillies chooses 'Saturn Devouring his Son' (c.1819-23) by Spanish painter and printmaker Francisco Goya (1746 - 1828). In a wide-ranging discussion, Gillies reflects on how this grotesque image has influenced his film-making. To comment on the show please…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets theatre director and writer Stephen Unwin. Stephen chooses two paintings which have informed his stage work - 'The Baptism of Christ' (c.1450) and 'The Resurrection' (c.1463-5) by the Italian Renaissance painter Piero della Francesca (c.1415 - 1492). To comment on the show please write to @laurajanefoley on…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets the Speaker of the House of Commons the Rt Hon John Bercow MP. John discusses two artworks in the Parliamentary Art Collection: a portrait of Speaker Lenthall by the 17th century artist Henry Peart the Elder (1637 -1697) and 'New Dawn' (2016) a contemporary light sculpture celebrating women's suffrage by th…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Geoffrey Munn, a writer, jewellery specialist and presenter on BBC Antiques Roadshow, who recounts an incredible art detective story. Geoffrey shares his forty-year quest to track down a missing one-of-a-kind watch designed by pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828 -1882). To comment on the show…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets Bel Mooney, one of Britain’s most successful journalists and the author of over 25 books. Bel reveals her favourite work of art is a Baroque masterpiece she first encountered as a young child in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool - 'The Virgin and Child in Glory' by Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murill…

In this episode Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets academic, philanthropist and former Conservative MP Brooks Newmark who reveals his favourite work of art - a portrait of his mother Gilda by the famed Pop Artist Andy Warhol (1928 -1987). Offering a compelling personal account of Warhol's artistic practice, Brooks discusses his own encounters with the glamo…

Artworks can elicit strong emotions and be powerful reminders of a lost time. In this series writer and art historian Dr Laura-Jane Foley meets some of Britain’s best-known personalities and uncovers the stories and passions behind her guests' favourite works of art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…